Okla. Stat. tit. 19, § 180.65 (2026)

A. The officers named in paragraph 1 of Section 180.61 of this title shall have such number of regular or technical deputies, assistants, investigators, evidence persons, aides, stenographers or reporters, technicians, undersheriffs, jailers, matrons, handwriting and fingerprint experts, probation officers, juvenile officers, bailiffs or other help, whatever title the principal officer may ascribe to the duties or functions to be performed as authorized by law and clearly related to the proper accomplishment of lawful functions, whether on whole or part-time basis, at such rates of salary or pay, subject to the provisions of this section as hereinafter set forth, as the principal officer may propose and establish the need of and which the county excise board may approve, for the adequate accomplishment of the functions of the office and the performance of the duties imposed thereon by law, with due weight being given to employment on whole or part-time basis. However, no such employments shall exceed the amount of lawful funds appropriated for such purpose, provided however, nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit additional salary payments or stipends paid from the Sheriff's Service Fee Account.

B. Each principal officer named in paragraph 1 of Section 180.61 of this title, except judges, shall designate of record in the office of the county clerk a first or chief deputy, undersheriff or assistant who shall be chargeable with all the duties of such principal officer, while subject to the direction of the same. The first or chief deputy, undersheriff or assistant shall carry on the duties of the office during the absence of the principal officer or, in the event of the death, removal or resignation of said principal officer, until a successor shall have qualified. During periods of vacancy of the principal office, resulting from the death, removal or resignation of the principal officer, the chief deputy, undersheriff or assistant shall be bonded in the same manner and in the same sum as required for the principal officer. C. No deputy, as defined in paragraph 2 of Section 161 of this title, shall receive a salary in excess of the principal officer. Any employee employed to perform duties that are not in assistance to a county officer in the performance of the official duties of the county officer including, but not limited to, specialized or technical duties, may receive a salary in excess of a county officer. The salaries set forth in this subsection within the limitations shall be such amounts as the principal officer may propose and establish the need for and which the county excise board may approve within salary and staffing requirements as may be prescribed by law. The numerical rank of any deputy or assistant to be effective must be by designation of the principal officer by the signature of the principal officer and filed with the county clerk. The numerical rank of any deputy or assistant shall be within the sole discretion of the principal officer. D. The board of county commissioners shall continue to have the authority to recommend the total amount of funds that can be used for the combined salaries in each of the county offices covered by this title. However, the approval of the funding for such offices shall continue to be the responsibility of the county excise board. County officers shall have no authority to make salary commitments beyond the amount of the funding so provided. E. The county excise board shall meet with each of the principal officers of the county in budget planning conference or conferences, before July 1 of each year, to discuss personnel needs for each office for the succeeding fiscal year. The excise board shall provide the principal officers a tentative estimate of anticipated revenues for the next fiscal year prior to the budget planning conferences. Added by Laws 1959, p. 98, § 8. Amended by Laws 1961, p. 214, § 1; Laws 1961, p. 215, § 1, emerg. eff. July 31, 1961; Laws 1976, c. 292, § 2, emerg. eff. June 17, 1976; Laws 1977, c. 7, § 1, emerg. eff. Feb. 25, 1977; Laws 1979, c. 26, § 1, emerg. eff. April 3, 1979; Laws 1981, c. 72, § 3; Laws 1993, c. 239, § 11, eff. July 1,

1993; Laws 1997, c. 283, § 2, emerg. eff. May 27, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 195, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1998; Laws 2005, c. 117, § 1, eff. July 1, 2005; Laws 2012, c. 123, § 1, eff. Nov 1, 2012; Laws 2021, c. 464, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2021; Laws 2024, c. 394, § 5, eff. July 1, 2024.